As
the heavy layers of Free Trade continue to pile up, much of the world is
strongly denouncing the Multinational Imperialism that’s been endorsed by
both major political bodies in the United States. Much of the world has
protested President Bush with contempt and anger over his unilateral
shoot-from-the-hip foreign policy posture. And as talks over the future of
the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) convened in Florida in the fall
of 2003, thousands of middle class families, college students, and elderly
citizens made their way to Miami in hopes they could reenact Cancun—where
activists interrupted the closed-door WTO negotiations.

Despite the early protests that were unable to halt the US government’s
illegal invasion of Iraq, the international activist community has seen
some remarkable victories over the past 12 months. Neoliberal trade
discussions will never be the same. The cabals that dictate global
economic policy cannot hide from the disenfranchised and their allies.
The disruption of the WTO talks in Cancun was a victory, not only because
the event was forced to end early—but also because it was a testament to
the fact activists are making a difference. It proved our protests do
matter.

Although we were unable to muzzle the Washington dogs before the Iraq
debauchery, our efforts were not in vain. Activists empowered several
centrist Democrats and a few conservative Republicans to oppose the
war—many of whom would not have taken an anti-war stance were it not for
the millions that bravely marched across this country in opposition.
Progressives have also shown the global community that they will not sit
idly by as our cowboy president goes about his daily dealings with utter
disregard for the regular people at home and abroad.

And this summer in New York City, progressives and activists will be able
to descend upon an event that may very well go down as one the most
important protests in US history. The Republicans will burrow themselves
in the Big Apple during their National Convention from August 30th through
September 4th. The organizing has already begun (www.counterconvention.com).

Activists and political
nuisances alike, will gather to disrupt the shameless event, where George
W. Bush and company will gather to lay out their plans for control of the
White House, Congress and the Senate until 2008.

But by then, the Iraq
catastrophe will have surely taken the lives of hundreds more soldiers and
innocent Iraqis. Our economy will have abolished even more social service
programs as the deficit continues to increase, and the unemployment rate
will be higher than it was when Bush took office in 2001. As the Bush team
continues to defend its actions in Iraq, with their exploited rhetoric of
Saddam’s WMDs and the imminent threat they purportedly had, vital
questions will continue to go unanswered. Our presumptions have been
proven correct, Bush lied, and our nation was duped into a war based on
disinformation and fear. It’s time to tell Bush to pack his bags because
he’s better off in Texas. In fact most of Washington is.

Americans of every
political stripe don’t like being deceived. And it is far too late for
the Democrats and Republicans to backtrack on the propaganda they have
sold the American public. They all must atone. The few politicians that
heard our pleas, like Ohio Congressman
Dennis Kucinich, do not
represent their parties as a whole. And our disgust shall be vented with
tears and sweat on the humid streets of New York in late summer 2004.

It won’t only be the Republicans activists we will be opposing; but the
policies endorsed by all the ruling elites, Democrats included.

It is imperative that we continue our struggle beyond November's
election.

It is also important that we are all clear on one thing—although we contest
the same administration as the Democrats, this does not make them our
ally.

Their weak opposition
gave Bush the power he needed to muster through much of his destructive
agenda. Democrats controlled the Senate for half of Bush’s tenure, and
they failed miserably to oppose him on many of the issues activists are
fighting against.

And most Democrats
continue to defend their endorsement of Bush’s unilateral invasion of
Iraq. Many support the way Bush has conducted the “War on Terror.” The
Democrats have also been overwhelmingly supportive of the Patriot Act and
its recent expansion, as well as Bush’s $87 billion dollar Iraq
(Halliburton et al) package. Let’s not be confused that subtle
differences actually separate these two parties. The Empire won't rattle
much if Bush is replaced by a centrist donkey.

Democrats like
frontrunner John Kerry may now speak with a vengeance when criticizing the
current administration, but it is unlikely you’ll hear any of them damn
their own Party’s involvement in the Bush calamity. There is no reason
the Democrats should be immune from our criticism; there are blood soaked
hands on both sides of the aisle. And if the Democrats ever hope to
represent us, they must accept blame—for they too are guilty.

Yes, we all want Bush
out. But our protests must go on regardless of who is in office. Because
in the end what really matters is not who the winner of a horse race every
four years is, but the relentless pressure “We” as active participants in
the political process continue put on our politicians, day in and day out,
to make them work in the interest of the Common Good.

Activists must continue
to voice their dissent in the streets and at the polls—the history of
positive political change in America makes this clear.

Plus it’s working.

Josh Frank is a writer living in New York. He is the author of
the forthcoming book entitled, Nothing Left: What the 2004 Elections
Mean for American Democracy, due out in the fall of 2004 by Common
Courage Press. He can be reached at
frank_joshua@hotmail.com.